Surging White Sox

The Chicago White Sox are 35-34 while playing their best baseball and gaining ground fast in the AL Central.

The White Sox have won 12 of 14 and are currently riding a 7 game winning streak.

The 8th in a row won't come easy tonight as Chicago has to deal with the NL's best Atlanta Braves (42-29) and Tim Hudson who is 7-2 with a 2.34 ERA.

The White Sox have Mark Buehrle taking the hill tonight who is 5-6 with a 4.71 ERA but has showed signs of life in his last two starts going 14 innings, allowing 14 hits and 2 runs with 1 walk and 13 strikeouts.

The White Sox are currently in 3rd in the AL Central, only 4.5 games back of the Minnesota Twins.

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Marlins Dismiss Gonzalez

The Florida Marlins have fired Manager Fredi Gonzalez.

The Marlins are currently 34-36 (7.5 games back in the NL East).

Gonzalez was the skipper of the Marlins from 2007-2010 and posted a record of 276-279 (.497).

The Marlins named Triple A manager Edwin Rodriguez intern manager.

The Florida Marlins 2010 payroll is just over $55 Million, so Gonzalez did fairly well with the resources he had.

The Marlins also fired bench Carlos Tosca and hitting coach Jim Presley.

Photo by: Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images North America)

White Sox Call Up Top Prospect Viciedo

The Chicago White Sox have called up top third base prospect Dayan Viciedo. Chicago designated Jayson Nix for assignment.

Mark Teahen went on the DL June 1st with a fractured right middle finger. The White Sox corresponding move was calling up Brent Lillibridge.

The White Sox went with a platoon of veteran Omar Vizquel and Jayson Nix, but Nix was not good in replacement batting only .163 with 1 HR and 5 RBI's. However, most of those statistics were based off one swing against Tampa Bay in which he hit a grand slam.

Viciedo was hitting .290 with 14 HR's and 34 RBI's in 62 games for AAA Charlotte.

Viciedo will not make his debut tonight against Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg, but will most likely get the start at third base tomorrow.

My question is why wasn't Dayan Viciedo called up right when Teahen got hurt?

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Troy Tulowitzki Out Indefinitely

The Colorado Rockies lost All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to a broken wrist that will keep him out at least 6-8 weeks according to Tracy Ringolsby of Fox Sports.

Tulowitzki injured his wrist when he was hit by pitch by Alex Burnett in the 8th inning of Thursday's game against the Minnesota Twins.

A big loss for Colorado as Tulowitzki was hitting .306 with 9 HR's and 34 RBI's to go with 7 SB's while stabalizing the middle of the Rockies lineup. Also a great defender, Tulowtzki will definitely be missed.

The Rockies are set to start a 3 game series tonight with the Milwaukee Brewers and could also be without star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez who strained his knee while fielding a single on Thursday.

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Jake Peavy Injured?

Jake Peavy may be injured.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times Joe Cowley, Peavy has "some things in his arm."

That is a very broad statement from Peavy, but not good news for the Chicago White Sox.

Although Peavy has a 5-5 record and an unimpressive 5.62 ERA, he still is a better option than what the White Sox would replace him with. The White Sox have been playing much better lately and can ill afford to lose him.

Peavy's start tomorrow v.s. the Pirates is in doubt.

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Pirates Call Up Pedro Alvarez

The Pirates have re called third baseman Pedro Alvarez from AAA Indianapolis.

Alvarez was hitting .277 with 13 HR's and 53 RBI's in 66 Games (278 AB's.)

Alvarez is the 4th Pirate prospect to be called up in the last month.

He may not hit for a great average but does have a ton of power and should make the Pirates line-up a lot better.

Pedro Alvarez will play third base and bat 6th in his Major League debut tonight against the White Sox.

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Pirates Designate Iwamura

The Pittsburgh Pirates designated Second Baseman Akinori Iwamura for assignment today.

Iwamura batted only .182 with 2 HR's and 9 RBI's in 54 Games (165 AB's).

The Pirates owe him the remaining $2.5 Million on his contract.

Pittsburgh acquired Iwamura last off-season from Tampa Bay for pitcher Jesse Chavez. Chavez was traded a month later to Atlanta for reliever Rafael Soriano.

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My National League All Star Team

Catcher- Yadier Molina (STL) - Not hitting the ball great at a modest .253 with 2 HR's and 28 RBI's, but he continues to play Gold Glove caliber defense.

1st Base- Albert Pujols (STL) - Triple Crown threat? Last years MVP is hitting .309 with 15 HR's and 49 RBI's.

2nd Base- Chase Utley (PHI) - Batting .260 with 10 HR's and 26 RBI's.

Shortstop- Troy Tulowitzki (COL) - Batting .306 with 9 HR's and 33 RBI's.

3rd Base- David Wright (NYM) - Having a breakout season after a disappointing 2009. Batting .293 with 12 HR's and 50 RBI's which leads the NL.

Left Field- Ryan Braun (MIL) - One of the lone bright spots for an underachieving Brewers team batting .304 with 10 HR's and 45 RBI's.

Center Field- Marlon Byrd (CHI)- It was Matt Kemp or Marlon Byrd and I gave the edge to Byrd. He's hitting .329 which is good for 3rd in the NL, has 9 HR's and 34 RBI's while playing a tremendous center field.

Right Field- Andre Ethier (LAD) - Batting .339 with 11 HR's and 40 RBI's while serving a 15 day DL stint.

Starting Pitcher- Ubaldo Jimenez (COL) - Breath taking numbers to start the season and a no brainer pick. 12-1 with a sparkling 1.16 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. On pace for over 200 strikeouts as well and is putting up a Hall Of Fame type season.

Honorable Mentions:

C- Brian McCann (ATL)
1B- Adrian Gonzalez (SD)
2B- Brandon Phillips (CIN)
SS- Hanley Ramirez (FLA)
3B- Scott Rolen (CIN)
OF- Corey Hart (MIL)
OF- Carlos Gonzalez (COL)
OF- Jason Heyward (ATL)

My American League All Star Team

Catcher- Joe Mauer (MIN) Last Years MVP is batting .316 with 2 HR's and 28 RBI's while playing Gold Glove caliber defense.

1st Base- Miguel Cabrera (DET) Batting .330 with 19 HR's and 56 RBI's which both lead the MLB.

2nd Base- Robinson Cano (NYY) Batting .368 which leads the MLB with 13 HR's and 47 RBI's.

Shortstop- Derek Jeter (NYY) Batting a flat .290 with 8 HR's and 39 RBI's. On pace for 98 RBI's out of the lead off spot which would be the third most in a single season in his illustrious career.

3rd Base- Evan Longoria (TB) Batting .321 with 12 HR's and 51 RBI's.

Left Field- Carl Crawford (TB) Batting .300 with 6 HR's and 36 RBI's to go with 22 SB's.

Center Field- Alex Rios (CWS) One of the lone bright spots in the struggling White Sox lineup batting .315 with 13 HR's and 32 RBI's to go with 19 SB's. A 5-Tool player.

Right Field- Josh Hamilton (TEX) Batting .315 with 15 HR's and 47 RBI's.

Designated Hitter- Vladimir Guerrero (TEX) Proving he's got a lot left in the tank at 35 years old batting .336 with 14 HR's and 54 RBI's which is good for 2nd in the MLB.

Starting Pitcher- David Price (TB) Leads the AL lead with 10 Wins, and leads the AL in ERA (2.31) at only 24 years old.

Honorable Mentions:

C- Jorge Posada (NYY)
1B- Justin Morneau (MIN)
2B- Dustin Pedroia (BOS)
SS- Alex Gonzalez (TOR)
3B- Alex Rodriguez (NYY)
OF- Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)
OF- Torii Hunter (LAA)
OF- Nelson Cruz (TEX)

Photo by: losangeles.angels.mlb.com

Carlos Silva Improves to 8-0

The Cubs off-season acquisition of Carlos Silva looks absolutely genius.

The Cubs received Silva in a deal that sent Milton Bradley to Seattle in December of last year.

Silva improved to 8-0 today and trimmed his ERA to 2.93. His WHIP stands at 1.06 and he looks like a flat out all star.

Bradley, on the other hand is hitting .211 with 3 HR's and 21 RBI's.

Who do you think won this deal?

The Chicago Cubs currently sit 3rd at 7 games back in the NL Central with a 26-31 record behind St. Louis and Cincinnati.

Photo by: hardballtalk.nbcsports.com

Brewers Release Struggling Suppan

The Milwaukee Brewers released Jeff Suppan today. Suppan signed a 4 year $42 Million deal in 2006.

In 4 years with the Brewers, Suppan posted a 29-36 record to go with a 5.08 ERA. He made 97 starts but his numbers started to steadily decline each year.

In 2010, Suppan went 0-2 with a mediocre 7.84 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He made only 2 starts and 13 relief appearances.

The Brewers owe Suppan the remaining $8.3 Million of his contract.

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